Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

HIV/AIDS: HHS Grants Awarded To Nine State Programs

The Health Resources and Services Administration, a subdivision of the Department of Health and Human Services, announced Friday ten grants totaling $3.28 million to fund early HIV intervention services in rural and underserved areas of nine states. The funding will go toward diagnostic testing and primary medical care at 10 clinics and outpatient units that join 165 other providers already funded under the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act. "These grants allow HRSA to strengthen the health care system for people struggling with HIV in areas where care is not readily available or easily accessible," said Dr. Joseph O'Neill, associate administrator of HRSA's HIV/AIDS Bureau. The new funding will be distributed to: Venice Family Clinic, Venice, CA; North Broward Hospital District, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Family Practice Residency of Idaho, Boise, ID; QUAD/Community Health Center, Davenport, IA; University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA; Heartland CARES, Paducah, KY; Beaufort Jasper Comprehensive Health Services, Ridgeland, SC; Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, VT; University of Virginia Infectious Disease Clinic, Charlottesville, VA; and University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI. The CARE Act is the largest source of federal funding to enable states to treat the low-income, HIV-infected population (HRSA release, 6/19).

Congress Approves Funds One week after the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $21 million increase for the Housing for People with AIDS program (HOPWA), the House Appropriations Committee is taking similar action. The advocacy group AIDS Action reports that "a $225 million spending level for FY 1999 is virtually assured, improving the quality of life for thousands of low-income people living with HIV" (AIDS Action release, 6/19). For all the latest HIV/AIDS news, see the Kaiser Family Foundation's Daily HIV/AIDS Report -- available free online at www.kff.org.

This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.